What are Infestations ?

Infestation is a term we use in the ministry to refer to objects, mostly inanimate, which an unclean spirit has taken dominion of. The infestation happens in the following situations:

• an object is used for a satanic or occult ritual
• the place was used for gravely sinful acts -- adultery, abortion, sexual perversity, murder, seances, occult rituals, satanic worship, drug manufacturing, drug use
• the place was consecrated to unclean spirits by a padugo (the offering of blood whether animal or human) or pag-aalay (the offering of something like food or property of the offerer) to appease them
• the place or object is used for pagan rituals
• the place used to be a cemetery and has been transformed to a human dwelling or business establishment
• the place has long been vacated of human inhabitants and it has become dark and musty
• a curse was sent to a place by a witch or satanists or occult practitioner.

Picture taken from http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/6-diy-ways-to-tell-if-your-house-is-haunted

How do we know if a place is infested?

Infestation is not immediately apparent until things start to happen to people in an infested place, or in possession of an infested object. In a place already infested, the infestation can be heightened by the introduction of further infestation brought about by events mentioned above.The intensity of the infestation is mostly measured by the manifestations.

A person with an opened occult third eye, or a person who is psychic will most likely detect the presence of the spirits. But more often than not, the infesting spirits will present themselves to the person who can see or detect them either in the form of a deceased person or a child, or a lady but never immediately in its true appearance as a grisly creature.

When a psychic or a person with an occult third eye opened stays in the house, the infesting spirits would try to befriend the person first promising the person powers, protection, prosperity, luck, good health. In the Philippines, this often is related as white dwarves or elves (puting dwendes) appearing. If the person accedes to the offer, then the infesting spirit also takes dominion over the person. If the person is head of the family, then also the entire family and household.

If the person rejects the offer, then the infesting spirits would resort to terror attacks to force them out of the place. The infesting spirits would show themselves as specters. Again in the local Philippines context this would take the form of multo (ghost), kapre (ogre), tikbalang (horse-like monster), maligno (malevolent spectre), tiyanak (goblin), itim na dwende (black or evil dwarf or elf), demonyo (demon). They will cause things to move or disappear, invade dreams and turn them into disturbing nightmares, cause power fluctuations, make electrical appliances function or malfunction in a bizzare way, knock on windows and doors, make things drop, doors to suddenly close with a loud bang, to smell putrid odor, hear moanings or cryings, cause sickness, bad luck, and freak accidents at the infested place, etc.

If the family or the household starts to develop an intense prayer life, the infesting spirits would retaliate by intensifying their assaults of terror. Any form of surrender to them by means of offerings, or contacting them through mediums will bring total subjugation and cause possession to occur if there would be any attempt to rid them off.

How do we cleanse a place that is infested?

 

But the only way to be truly at peace is to expel them. An ordinary house blessing would not be enough especially if the cause of the infestation was due to anyone of the above situations. In most instances, prayers of liberation would be necessary in the cleansing of the place. A priest is necessary in this case as he possess the authority given by Christ to the Church to expel unclean spirits of this kind. The owners would need to undergo a complete conversion bolstered by an intimate relationship with Jesus manifested in a family life of prayer, practice of the virtues, and genuine charity. The Holy Mass, Holy Communion, and Regular Sacramental Confession must be mainstays in the spiritual life. Loving devotion to Our Blessed Mother helps a lot!

It is absolutely necessary that all non-Christian cult objects be removed and destroyed, e.g. anting-antings, talismans, amulets, anitos, pagan divinities (Buddhas), superstitious objects (like bagwans), everything that came from albularyos and occult practioners. All catholic objects should then be blessed again by the priest.

A priest would need to have the intention of ridding the place that is infested. Then we observe the following:

• Celebrate Holy Mass in the place for the purpose of spiritual liberation.
• Include in the intention for suffrage of suffering souls especially those who have lived in the house or died in the house.
• After the Mass, an exorcism of the house using the appropriate prayers like the Exorcism Prayer of Pope Leo XIII. The prayer is to be said in the major room of the house and all places where strange things happen.
• Together with the prayer of exorcism is the generous use of holy water, exorcised-blessed oil for objects (windows, doors, mirrors, cabinets), and blessed salt for those hard to reach places. Blessed sacramentals like a crucifix, a holy icon or image, or medal of St. Benedict should be placed in every room or infested corner. The lay faithful can help him in this part.
• All un-holy ties, un-holy seals, un-holy consecrations, un-holy pacts are then renounced and broken by the owner of the place and the current inhabitants. The priest then confirms this renouncement by making the prayers to break all un-holy bonds.
• The place in then blessed with the appropriate blessing-prayer.
• The family or person make their consecration at the family altar to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
• Then final blessing.

Usually this would suffice for the moment. Because the next line of battle would be with the people who live in the house. It is easy to expel unclean spirits who have dominion over objects. But rational beings are more difficult as there is the element of the intellect and the will. And with the will there is choice. And this is where the demon will try to have access to.